Features

Atlético stadium deal under scrutiny

Atlético Madrid has pledged to offer “maximum collaboration” after the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid (TSJM) annulled an agreement that allows modification of the site on which the LaLiga club’s Wanda Metropolitano stadium was built.

Last season marked Atlético’s first year at the 67,000-seat, state-of-the-art venue, which the club moved to from the Vicente Calderón, its previous home of more than 50 years.

However, the club has this week been hit by a ruling that calls into question the terms on which the new stadium was built. Spanish news agency EFE reported that the TSJM has annulled the agreement on the back of an appeal by Asociacion Senales de Humo, a supporter group which aims to preserve the history of Atlético.

According to EFE, the TJSM has highlighted six reasons for the annulment of the General Plan of Urban Planning (PGOU), among them the false classification of the land. Atlético agreed a deal with the Madrid City Council to build the Wanda Metropolitano and both parties, along with the Community of Madrid, were listed as defendants in the court proceedings this week.

EFE noted that Atlético remains “very calm” about the situation, with the club stating that it has “done the homework and complied with all commitments”.

The club added: “It is not a sentence against Atlético Madrid, but against the administrations (Ayuntamiento de Madrid and Comunidad de Madrid).

“The combination of old and new legislation has made it a complex administrative issue. It’s not an isolated case, and it has happened on other occasions.”

According to Spanish newspaper El País, the City Council will appeal the ruling. Atlético is expected to start the 2018-19 season at the Wanda Metropolitano as normal.

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